Screening attachment for grain dryer

ABSTRACT

A screen covered hopper for disposition beneath the central elevated downwardly opening discharge head of a recirculating grain dryer such as the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Tox-O-Wik,&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Grain Chies&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; and Moridge portable grain dryers. The hopper includes a discharge auger which extends generally radially outwardly from the central area of the upper end of the grain bin portion of the dryer beyond one side wall portion thereof and is provided with a downwardly opening outlet for discharging the chaff downwardly to a collection point therefor such as a ground area disposed alongside the grain dryer or a suitable tank or wagon positioned alongside the dryer.

Elite States Patent Walhof et al.

1 1 Sept. 12, 1972 both of PO. Box 248, Edgerton, Minn. 56128 [22] Filed: May 4, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 140,104

[52] US. Cl ..34/174, 209/256 [51] Int. Cl ..B07b l/00, F26b 17/18 [58] Field of Search ..34/60, 160, 164, 168, 174;

Strang ..209/257 3,610,414 1/1969 Zumalt ..209/255 Primary ExaminerKenneth W. Sprague- Assistant Examinerlames C. Yeung AttorneyClarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacob- 571 7 ABSTRACT A screen covered hopper for disposition beneath the central elevated downwardly opening discharge head of a recirculating grain dryer such as the Tori-()- Wik, Grain Chies" and Moridge portable grain dryers. The hopper includes a discharge auger which extends generally radially outwardly from the central area of the upper end of the grain bin portion of the dryer beyond one side wall portion thereof and is provided with a downwardly opening outlet for discharging the chaff downwardly to a collection point therefor such as a ground area disposed alongside the grain dryer or a suitable tank or wagon positioned alongside the dryer.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PMENTEDSEP 12 1972 SHEET 1 BF 2 Peter A. Wa/haf Elmer 7. Wal/rof IN VENTORS PATENTEU I972 3.690.016

. sum 2 or 2 aha/06h Kl l n wM -Mm SCREENING ATTACHMENT FOR GRAIN DRYER The screen covered hopper is disposed beneath only one side of the upper discharge head of the dryer and therefore screens only one-half of the grain being discharged from the head. However, recirculating dryers cycle the grain being dried therethrough approximately 20 times for every 4 hours of operation of the dryer and accordingly, a single screening attachment will usually act upon all of the grain being circulated through the dryer at least times. However, a pair of screening attachments may be utilized for more complete screening, if desired, and in which case the grain being dried is screened approximately 20 times during the drying process.

The attachment of the instant invention is constructed in a manner whereby it may be readily utilized in conjunction with substantially all recirculating grain dryers of the type including an elevated central discharge head. The attachment has been primarily designed for use in conjunction with corn but it may convey the screenings from the central upper area of a recirculating dryer outwardly to a discharge point v screening attachment in accordance with the preceding also be utilized on dryers performing the drying operation of other grains. In order to modify the attachment for screening a particular grain, it is merely necessary to change the screen portion of the attachment.

The material screened out of grain being dried is collected and may be mixed with protein and feed concentrates, etc., and fed to cattle. In addition to performing the screening process, the attachment of the instant invention also serves to separate and laterally deflect each discharge of grain from the head of the associated dryer in order to more evenly spread the grain being dried about the hopper portion of the dryer.

When high moisture corn or other grain is encountered, there is a tendency for more grain kernels to crack. It is desirable to have the cracked kernels removed from the dried grain as the cracked kernels accumulate together in a compact manner and become excessively heated in storage. This excess heating may cause all of the grain within the entire storage bin to spoil. On the other hand, if all of the kernels of grain are of uniform size, then air will tend to flow through the stored grain in a natural manner and this air flow reduces the probability of heating. Also, there are certain grain weevils that will work in stored grain and they are attracted more by cracked kernels. Accordingly, it is advantageous to have as few cracked kernels of grain in the storage bin as possible not only to reduce the tendency of heating but also to reduce the tendency of grain weevils being attracted to the bin.

The screening attachment of the instant invention serves not only to remove the chaff from the grain but also to remove cracked kernels which have a tendency to pack in a storage bin and which constitute an attraction for grain weevils.

The main object of this invention is to provide a screening attachment for recirculating grain dryers constructed in a manner whereby the attachment will screen out chaff and cracked kernels.

Another object of this invention is to provide a screening attachment which is constructed in a manner whereby it may be readily utilized on substantially all types of recirculating grain dryers provided with central upper discharge heads.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a screening attachment in accordance with the preceding objects and including a auger conveyor operable to objects and constructed in a manner whereby the screening attachment may be readily modified for use in screening different types of grain.

Y A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a screening attachment which will'conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide .a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer tolike parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a conventional form of recirculating dryer with the screening attachment of the instant invention illustrated in operative association with the dryer, an upper portion of the upper discharge sleeve of the grain dryer and the head supported therefrom being removed and the central sleeve illustrated in horizontal section;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the assemblage illustrated in FIG. 1 with portions of the grain dryer and attachment being illustrated in vertical section;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of a recirculating dryer with a pair of the screening attachments of the instant invention operatively associated with the upper discharge head of the dryer. I

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional form of recirculating grain dryer including an outer perforated hopper 12 and an inner perforated air chamber 14 outwardly through the walls of which heated air is blown. The dryer 10 further includes a central upstanding conveyor assembly 16 of the auger type including an outer sleeve 18 and an inner auger screw 20. The upper end of the conveyor assembly 16 opens into an upper central head 22 having opposite side downwardly opening outlets 24 from which grain conveyed upwardly through the conveyor assembly 16 is discharged by gravity for falling into the outer annular area between the walls of the hopper 12 and the outer surfaces of the air chamber 14.

The screening attachment of the instant invention is referred to in generaly by the reference numeral 26 and includes a hopper assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 28. The hopper assembly 28 includes inner and outer walls 30 and 32 interconnected by means of a pair of lower upwardly divergent side walls 34 and 36. In addition, the upper portions of the inner and outer walls 30 and 32 include upwardly convergent edges defining a front to rear extending ridge line 38 and a Screen panel 40 is secured over the upper edges of the inner and outer end walls 30 and 32 forming a reticulated screening member of generally inverted V-shaped configuration.

The inner end wall 30 has a clamp assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 42 secured thereto and the clamp assembly 42 is utilized to support the hopper assembly 28 beneath one of the outlets 24 in vertical registry therewith.

The screening attachment 26 further includes an auger assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 44 and the auger assembly includes an outer auger tube 46 and an inner auger screw 48 which is journalled at one end as at 52 and craddled in and thereby journalled by the tube 46 at its other end.

The screw auger 44 has its inlet end secured beneath the hopper assembly 28 and its outlet end disposed outwardly of one side wall 54 of the hopper 12. The upper portions of the auger tube 46 are cut away throughout the inlet end of the auger assembly 44 disposed immediately beneath the hopper assembly 28 and the discharge end of the screw auger 44 includes a downwardly opening outlet neck 56.

A mounting bracket 58 is supported from the discharge end of the auger conveyor or screw auger 44 and an electric motor 60 is supported from the bracket 58 and includes a drive pulley 62 mounted on its output shaft. Further, the discharge end of the auger screw 48 includes an input pulley 64 mounted thereon aligned with the pulley 62 and an endless flexible belt 66 is trained about the pulleys 62 and 64.

The auger tube 46 includes an upper longitudinally extending stiffening member 68 and the discharge end of the auger conveyor 44 includes a transversely extending fence 70 adjustably secured to the stiffening member 68 by a U-bolt 72 also anchoring an underlying metal reinforcing and protective plate 74 to the underside of the tube where it rests on the hopper wall. The fence 70 is positioned so that any grain rolling down the stifi'ening member 68 toward the outer side of the hopper 12 will contact the fence 70 and fall laterally off the stiffening member 68 and back into the hopper 12 without falling to the outside of the hopper 12.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. of the drawings, there may be seen a pair of screening attachments 26 operatively associated'with both outlets 24 of the head 22 whereby twice as much grain will be screened each time the grain is cycled through the dryer l0.

In operation, grain is discharged downwardly through both of the outlets 24 and falls upon the screen panel 40 whereupon the chaff falls through the screen panel and into the hopper assembly 28. The chaff then falls to the bottom of the hopper assembly 28 and into the inlet end of the auger conveyor 44 for conveying to the outlet neck 56 from where the chaff may be allowed to fall downwardly to. and accumulate on the ground. On the other hand, a discharge tube or chute may be communicated with the outlet neck 56 and the chafi may be conveyed, by gravity, immediately into a bin or wagon disposed along side the dryer 10. Of

course, the motor 60 is required only to drive the auger screw 48 and may therefore be a low capacity motor.

Further, the screening attachment 26 may be made in different sizes with the only difference between the various sizes of the attachment 26 being the length of the auger conveyors thereof. On the other hand, if the screening attachments 26 are constructed with an auger conveyor of sufficient length for the largest recirculating dryer, they may of course also be utilized on smaller dryers.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows: v 1. A grain screening device including an upwardly opening hopper for disposition below and in vertical alignment with a downwardly opening grain discharge outlet, a foraminous panel member secured over the open upper portion of said hopper and including at least one inclined section, an elongated conveyor having a first inlet end and a second discharge end, said inlet end of said conveyor being communicated with the lower portion of said hopper for conveying the screenings therefrom to said discharge end of said elongated conveyor.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said conveyor is downwardly inclined toward its discharge end.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said conveyor comprises an auger conveyor and includes an upwardly projecting transverse fence supported therefrom intermediate said inlet and discharge ends.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said foraminous panel includes a pair of relatively and oppositely inclined adjacent upwardly convergent sections.

5. In combination with a recirculating grain dryer of v the type including an upper central downwardly opening grain outlet and a lower bin for receiving grain falling by gravity from said grain outlet, a grain screening device including an upwardly opening hopper supported in vertical alignment with and below said grain outlet, a foraminous panel member secured over the open upper portion of said hopper and including at least one inclined section, an elongated conveyor having a first inlet end and a second discharge end, said inlet end of said conveyor being communicated with the lower portion of said hopper for receiving the screenings from said hopper and conveying the screenings to said discharge end of said elongated conveyor, said conveyor extending outwardly from said central downwardly opening outlet to a point spaced outwardly of one of the side wall portions of said bin.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said conveyor is downwardly inclined toward its discharge end.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said conveyor comprises an auger conveyor and includes an upwardly projecting transverse fence supported therefrom intermediate said inlet and discharge ends.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein said foraminous panel includes a pair of relatively and oppositely inclined adjacent upwardly convergent sections.

10. The combination of claim 9'wherein said, conveyor is downwardly inclined toward its discharge end. 11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said conveyor comprises an auger conveyor and includes an upwardly projecting transverse fence supported therefrom intermediate said inlet and discharge ends. 

1. A grain screening device including an upwardly opening hopper for disposition below and in vertical alignment with a downwardly opening grain discharge outlet, a foraminous panel member secured over the open upper portion of said hopper and including at least one inclined section, an elongated conveyor having a first inlet end and a second discharge end, said inlet end of said conveyor being communicated with the lower portion of said hopper for conveying the screenings therefrom to said discharge end of said elongated conveyor.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said conveyor is downwardly inclined toward its discharge end.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said conveyor comprises an auger conveyor and includes an upwardly projecting transverse fence supported therefrom intermediate said inlet and discharge ends.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said foraminous panel includes a pair of relatively and oppositely inclined adjacent upwardly convergent sections.
 5. In combination with a recirculating grain dryer of the type including an upper central downwardly opening grain outlet and a lower bin for receiving grain falling by gravity from said grain outlet, a grain screening device including an upwardly opening hopper supported in vertical alignment with and below said grain outlet, a foraminous panel member secured over the open upper portion of said hopper and including at least one inclined section, an elongated conveyor having a first inlet end and a second discharge end, said inlet end of said conveyor being communicated with the lower portion of said hopper for receiving the screenings from said hopper and conveying the screenings to said discharge end of said elongated conveyor, said conveyor extending outwardly from said central downwardly opening outlet to a point spaced outwardly of one of the side wall portions of said bin.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said conveyor is downwardly inclined toward its discharge end.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said conveyor comprises an auger conveyor and includes an upwardly projecting transverse fence supported therefrom intermediate said inlet and discharge ends.
 8. The combination of claim 5 wherein said foraminous panel includes a pair of relatively and oppositely inclined adjacent upwardly convergent sections.
 9. The combination of claim 5 wherein said recirculating grain dryer includes a central upstanding grain elevating conveyor, said grain outlet opening downwardly from the upper end of said elevating conveyor, said hopper being supported from said elevating conveyor at a point thereon spaced below said outlet opening.
 10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said conveyor is downwardly inclined toward its discharge end.
 11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said conveyor comprises an auger conveyor and includes an upwardly projecting transverse fence supported therefrom intermediate said inlet and discharge ends. 